Cube Fuse Adapter

ABSTRACT

A cube fuse adapter ( 1 ) comprising an adapter housing ( 2 ) shaped in the form of a cube fuse and including a pair of fuse reception contacts ( 4 - 1, 4 - 2 ) provided to receive a cylindrical fuse ( 5 ), wherein both fuse reception contacts ( 4 - 1, 4 - 2 ) are connected to associated electrical contacts ( 3 - 1, 3 - 2 ) protruding from a bottom side of the adapter housing ( 2 ) of said cube fuse adapter ( 1 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a cube fuse adapter for a cylindrical fuse.

BACKGROUND

Cylindrical fuses are widely used and have metallic contacts at the endfaces thereof. Cylindrical fuses do not comprise laterally protrudingcontacts but have at both ends metallic contact caps. Cylindrical fusescan comprise class J fuses with current ratings up to 60 Amps. Incontrast to cylindrical fuses, cube fuses such as CF fuses according toUL 248-17, which are also referred to as cube fuses, are finger-safe andare integrated in a cubic housing made of a fire resistant plasticmaterial having protruding electrical contacts. Current ratings of aconventional cube fuses can be in a range of up to 400 A.

Since conventional cylindrical fuses, in particular class J cylindricalfuses, are not finger-safe, there is a need to provide a compact devicewhich provides a finger-safe enclosure protection and which allows acompatible use of cylindrical fuses with cube fuses in a powerdistribution system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a cube fuse adapter comprising an adapter housingshaped in the form of a cube fuse and including a pair of fuse receptioncontacts provided to receive a cylindrical fuse, wherein both fusereception contacts are connected to associated electrical contactsprotruding from a bottom side of the adapter housing of said cube fuseadapter or wherein each fuse reception contact of said pair of fusereception contacts forms with an associated electrical contact andintegral component.

In a possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according to the firstaspect of the present invention, the cylindrical fuse comprises on bothends contact caps being insertable into U-shaped fuse receptioncontacts.

In an alternative embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according to thefirst aspect of the present invention the cylindrical fuse comprises onboth ends contact caps having end surfaces pressed between fusereception contacts.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, each U-shaped fuse receptioncontact comprises two spaced apart contact arms facing each other andbeing connected to each other by means of a common contact base portion.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the contact baseportion of the U-shaped fuse reception contact is connected to anelectrical contact protruding from the bottom side of the adapterhousing of said cube fuse adapter or form a common integral componentwith the electrical contact.

In a possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according to

-   the first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical fuse    received by the cube fuse adapter comprises a class J fuse or a    class CC fuse or a 14×51 fuse or a 22×58 fuse or a 10×38 fuse.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the electricalcontacts protruding from the bottom side of the adapter housing of saidcube fuse adapter are pluggable into contact slots of a cube fuse holderor into contact slots of a cube fuse switch.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the cube fuseadapter comprises an integrated light emitting diode and a resistorconnected in series to the light emitting diode wherein the lightemitting diode and the in serial connected resistor are connected inparallel to the cylindrical fuse inserted into the U-shaped fusereception contacts. The light emitting diode is adapted to emit light toindicate an interruption of an electrical current flow after thecylindrical fuse has melted due to an overcurrent.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the adapterhousing of the cube fuse adapter comprises a cover portion beingremovable from a base portion at the bottom side of the adapter housing.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, a cover portion and the baseportion at the bottom side of the adapter housing comprise a fireresistant material and/or a heat conductive material.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of fusereception contacts is pivotable around a rotation axis between a firstposition wherein an inserted cylindrical fuse is covered by the adapterhousing and a second position where the inserted cylindrical fuse isreplaceable.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical fuse isinserted into the fuse reception contacts by pushing the cylindricalfuse through a reception opening within the adapter housing.

In a still further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapteraccording to the first aspect of the present invention, the fusereception contacts are externally sprung.

In a still further possible alternative embodiment of the cube fuseadapter according to the first aspect of the present invention, the fusereception contacts are self-sprung.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical fuse isinsertable into a fuse holding element.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the fuse holding elementcontaining the inserted cylindrical fuse is pivotable around a rotationaxis or is movable between a first position where the fuse holdingelement is enclosed by the adapter housing and a second position wherethe fuse holding element are replaceable along with the inserted fuse.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the adapter housing providesat least an IP20 enclosure protection.

In a further possible embodiment of the cube fuse adapter according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the adapter housing comprisesventilation slots to provide heat dissipation.

The invention provides according to a further aspect a powerdistribution system comprising at least one cube fuse adapter accordingto the first aspect of the present invention pluggable into contactslots of a cube fuse holder or into contact slots of a cube fuse switchof said power distribution system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In the following, possible embodiments of the different aspects of thepresent invention are described in more detail with reference to theenclosed figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on a possible exemplary embodiment of acube fuse adapter according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C show perspective views of a possible embodiment of a thecube fuse adapter illustrated in FIG. 1 with a removed cover portion;

FIGS. 3A-3D show perspective views of a further possible embodiment of athe cube fuse adapter illustrated in FIG. 1 with a removed coverportion;

FIGS. 4A-4B show perspective views of a further possible embodiment of athe cube fuse adapter illustrated in FIG. 1 with a removed coverportion;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section view through a cube fuse adapter accordingto the first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement where cube fuse adapters according to thepresent invention are plugged into a cube fuse holder;

FIG. 7 illustrates a circuit diagram of a possible exemplary embodimentof a cube fuse adapter according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As can be seen from the perspective view illustrated in FIG. 1 , a cubefuse adapter 1 according to the first aspect of the present inventioncomprises an adapter housing 2 shaped in the form of a cube fuse. Thecube fuse housing 2 has at its bottom side protruding electricalcontacts 3-1, 3-2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 . The adapter housing 2 cancomprise two portions, i.e. a cover portion 2A and a base portion 2B ata bottom side of the adapter housing 2.The adapter housing 2 has insidea reception chamber provided for reception of a cylindrical fuse 5. Thereception chamber comprises fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 forreceiving and holding an inserted cylindrical fuse 5 mechanically and toestablish an electrical contact between contact caps 6-1, 6-2 of theinserted cylindrical fuse 5 and the protruding contacts 3-1, 3-2. Thefuse reception contacts 4-1,4-2 can have different shapes as describedin context with the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 5 .

FIGS. 2A to FIG. 2D illustrate the cube fuse adapter 1 with a removedcover portion 2A. As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the electrical contacts3-1, 3-2 protrude from the base portion 2B at the bottom side of theadapter housing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1. The cover portion 2A ofthe adapter housing 2 as shown in FIG. 1 can be removed in a possibleimplementation manually from the base portion 2B. A user may use twofingers to press the opposite sidewalls of the cover portion 2A todisengage the cover portion 2A mechanically from the base portion 2B forinserting or replacing a cylindrical fuse within the cube fuse adapter1. As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the cube fuse adapter 1 comprises a pairof fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 to receive a cylindrical fuse 5. Thefuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 are connected electrically to theassociated electrical contacts 3-1, 3-2 protruding from the bottom sideof the adapter housing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1. The first fusereception contact 4-1 and the first electrical contact 3-1 as well asthe second fuse reception contact 4-2 and the second electrical contact3-2 can form in a possible embodiment an integral component asillustrated in FIG. 2B. As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the cylindrical fuse5 comprises on both ends metallic contact caps 6-1, 6-2 insertable intothe fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Thecylindrical fuse 5 can comprise in a possible embodiment a class J or aclass CC fuse having a ceramic body with two electrical conductivecontact caps 6-1, 6-2 on both ends as shown in FIG. 2 . The electricalcontacts 3-1, 3-2 protruding from the bottom side of the adapter housing2 of the cube fuse adapter 1 are pluggable in a possible embodiment intocorresponding contact slots of a cube fuse holder or into contact slotsof another adapter or device such as a cube fuse switch. The protrudingcontact slots 3-1,3-3 can be plugged into corresponding contact slots ofanother device of a power distribution system. This device may comprisefor instance a busbar board encompassing busbars with correspondingcontact slots.

The cover portion 2A and the base portion 2B at the bottom portion ofthe adapter housing 2 comprise in a preferred embodiment a fireresistant material. The material of the cover portion 2A and the baseportion 2B of the adapter housing 2 can in a possible embodiment beformed by a heat conductive material. The walls of the cover portion 2Aof the adapter housing 2 can comprise at least partially transparentmaterial allowing a user to see whether a cylindrical fuse 5 has beeninserted into the fuse reception contacts 4-1,4-2. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 the cover portion 2A of the adapter housing2 can be removed by a user to insert a cylindrical fuse 5 into the fusereception contacts 4-1, 4-2. After having inserted the cylindrical fuse5 into the fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2, the user can put the coverportion 2A back onto the base portion 2B of the adapter housing 2. Eachfuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 can be self-sprung or sprung by aseparate associated spring component exerting a mechanical force on therespective fuse reception contact. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 thefuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 are sprung by disc springs 7-1, 7-2.

FIGS. 3A-3D show perspective views of a further possible embodiment of acube fuse adapter 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 with a removed cover portion2A. The fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 are connected electrically tothe associated electrical contacts 3-1, 3-2 protruding from the bottomside of the adapter housing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1. The first fusereception contact 4-1 and the first electrical contact 3-1 as well asthe second fuse reception contact 4-2 and the second electrical contact3-2 can form in a possible embodiment an integral component asillustrated in FIG. 3B where the base portion 2B is removed. As can beseen in FIGS. 3 , the cylindrical fuse 5 comprises on both ends metalliccontact caps 6-1, 6-2 insertable into the fuse reception contacts 4-1,4-2. The cylindrical fuse 5 can comprise in a possible embodiment aclass J or a class CC fuse having a ceramic body with two electricalconductive contact caps 6-1, 6-2 on both ends pressed between protrudingcontact portions 8-1,8-2 of the fuse reception contacts 4-1,4-2 as shownin FIGS. 3B,3C. Further dices springs 7-1,7-2 can also be provided asshown in FIG. 3D.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show perspective views of a further possibleembodiment of the cube fuse adapter 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 with aremoved cover portion. In this embodiment the fuse reception contacts4-1,4-2 are not U-shaped. The contact caps 6-1,6-2 are inserted betweenthe distal reception contacts 4-1,4-2. FIG. 4B shows the adapter 1 withremoved base portion 2B.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section view through a cube fuse adapter 1 asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 . The fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 areconnected electrically to the electrical contacts 3-1, 3-2 protrudingfrom the bottom side of the adapter housing 2. As can be seen from theembodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 , the fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 can beU-shaped to receive the cylindrical contact caps 6-1, 6-2 of acylindrical fuse 5. As shown in FIG. 3B to FIG. 3D and in the crosssection view of FIG. 5 , each U-shaped fuse reception contact 4-1, 4-2can comprise two spaced apart contact arms facing each other and beingconnected to each other by means of a contact base portion which isconnected within the adapter housing 2 electrically to an associatedprotruding electrical contact 3-1, 3-2.

The cover portion 2A of the adapter housing 2 can comprise in a possibleimplementation side walls 12 having protruding engaging hooks adapted toengage into corresponding recesses of the base portion 2B. By pressingthe slightly elastic sidewalls 12 of the cover portion 2A it is possibleto disengage the locking hooks from the corresponding recesses providedin the bottom portion 2B of the adapter housing 2. After a user haspressed with the finger tips of his fingers against opposite side walls8 of the cover portion 2A, a user can disengage the locking hooks coverportion 2A from the recesses of the base portion 2B to open the adapterhousing 2 an to get access to the fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2located inside of the adapter housing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1.Other mechanical means to mechanically connect the base portion 2B withthe cover portion 2A can be used as well.

For instance the cover portion 2A can be pivoted in a possibleembodiment around a rotation axis at an edge of the base portion 2B.

After having removed the cover portion 2A, a user can insert thecylindrical fuse 5 with its contact caps 6-1, 6-2 into the correspondingfuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2. After the insertion of the cylindricalfuse 5 has been accomplished, the user can place the cover portion 2Aback onto the base portion 2B of the cube fuse adapter 1. In a furtherstep, the user can then insert the cube fuse adapter 1 into anotherdevice, in particular into a cube fuse holder or into a cube fuse switchof a power distribution system. This can be achieved by plugging theprotruding electrical contacts 3-1, 3-2 finger safe into correspondingcontact slots of a cube fuse holder or of a cube fuse switch of thepower distribution system as also illustrated in the arrangement of FIG.4 . The fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 can be either externally sprungor self-sprung. The adapter housing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1provides at least an IP20 enclosure protection for a user, i.e. touchprotection safety. In a possible embodiment, the adapter housing 2 canalso comprise ventilation slots to provide improved heat dissipation.

FIG. 6 illustrates different cube fuse adapters 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 pluggedinto an adapter device 9 of a power distribution system such as class CFcube fuse holder . Each of the cube fuse adapters 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 caninclude an inserted cylindrical fuse 5 as shown in FIG. 2 . The cubefuse adapters 1-i can also be plugged into another kind of adapterdevices such as cube fuse switches or into contact slots of powerdistribution crossboards with integrated power supply bars. Thecylindrical fuses 5 inserted into the cube fuse adapters 1-i can provideoverload protection and/or overcurrent protection within a powerdistribution or power supply system.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of a possible exemplary embodiment of acube fuse adapter 1 according to the present invention. The adapterhousing 2 of the cube fuse adapter 1 encloses a cylindrical fuse 5having contact caps 6-1, 6-2 inserted into fuse reception contacts 4-1,4-2. The fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 are connected electrically toassociated electrical contacts 3-1, 3-2 protruding from the adapterhousing 2. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5 , a resistor 10 and alight emitting diode LED 11 are connected in series. The resistor 10 andthe serial connected light emitting diode 11 are connected in parallelto the inserted electrical fuse 5 as shown in FIG. 5 . In case that theelectrical current flowing through the cylindrical fuse 5 is interruptedafter the cylindrical fuse 5 has melted, the electrical current isredirected through the resistor 10 and the light emitting diode 11 whichdoes emit light to indicate the interruption of the electrical currentflow through the cylindrical fuse 5. The light emitting diode 11 can belocated in a possible embodiment in the cover portion 2A of the cubefuse adapter housing 2. In this way, a user can be informed that thecylindrical fuse 5 within the housing 2 has melted and has to bereplaced.

In a preferred embodiment, the resistor 10 comprises a high resistanceto protect the light emitting diode 1 and to minimize the electricalcurrent flowing from the first electrical contact 3-1 to the secondelectrical contact 3-2 in case that the cylindrical fuse 5 has meltedand the current flow through the fuse has been interrupted. The lightemitting diode 11 informs a user about the cause of the currentinterruption. For instance, if a load connected to the electricalcontact 3-2 does not receive electrical supply current because thecylindrical fuse 5 within the adapter housing 2 has melted, the lightemitting diode 11 emits light informing the user about the cause of theelectrical current interruption. Other signaling components forindicating the electrical current interruption are possible, forinstance an acoustic sound source emitting an acoustic warning signal incase that the cylindrical fuse 5 has melted due to an overcurrent orother reasons.

In a possible embodiment the interruption of the electrical currentflowing through the cylindrical fuse in response to an overcurrent canbe detected by a detector component integrated in the cube fuse adapter1 and is signaled by the detector component via a third protrudingelectrical contact 3 to another device of the power distribution system.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 , the cylindrical fuse 5can be replaced after having removed the cover portion 2A from the baseportion 2B of the adapter housing 2. Other embodiments of the cube fuseadapters 1 are possible. In a possible embodiment, the pair of fusereception contacts 4-1, 4-2 is pivotable around a rotation axis betweena first position where an inserted cylindrical fuse 5 is covered by thecover portion 2A of the adapter housing 2 and a second position wherethe inserted cylindrical fuse 5 is replaceable by a user.

In a further alternative embodiment, the cylindrical fuse 5 can also beinserted into the fuse reception contacts 4-1, 4-2 by pushing thecylindrical fuse 5 through a corresponding reception opening providedwithin the cover portion 2A of the adapter housing 2 in a lateralmovement direction.

In a still further possible alternative embodiment of the cube fuseadapter 1, the cylindrical fuse 5 is first inserted into a correspondingfuse holding element such as a receiving cage. This fuse holding elementcan be pivotable around a rotation axis between a first position wherethe fuse holding element is enclosed by the adapter housing 2 and asecond position where the fuse holding element and the insertedcylindrical fuse 5 are replaceable. In a still further possiblealternative embodiment, the cylindrical fuse 5 inserted into the fuseholding element can be moved in a translation movement between a firstposition where the fuse holding element is enclosed by the adapterhousing 2 and a second position where the fuse holding element and theinserted cylindrical fuse 5 are replaceable by a user.

The shape of the adapter housing 2 corresponds to the shape of a cubefuse. Accordingly, the adapter housing 2 can comprise differentdimensions according to the corresponding dimensions of different typesof cube fuses. The adapter housing 2 can be labeled as including acylindrical fuse 5 which is replaceable. If the inserted cylindricalfuse 5 has melted or the configuration of the power distribution system,in particular the connected load, has changed, the inserted cylindricalfuse 5 can be easily replaced by another cylindrical fuse 5 matching theconfiguration requirements of the power distribution system.

1. A cube fuse adapter comprising: an adapter housing shaped in the formof a cube fuse and including a pair of fuse reception contacts providedto receive a cylindrical fuse, wherein said pair of fuse receptioncontacts are connected to associated electrical contacts protruding froma bottom side of the adapter housing of said cube fuse adapter, orwherein each of said pair of fuse reception contacts forms an integralcomponent with an associated electrical contact.
 2. The cube fuseadapter according to claim 1 wherein: the pair of fuse receptioncontacts are U-shaped, and the cylindrical fuse includes, on oppositeends thereof, contact caps having a cylindrical outer surfacesconfigured for insertion into a corresponding U-shaped fuse receptioncontact and/or the cylindrical fuse includes end surfaces configured tobe pressed between said pair of fuse reception contacts.
 3. The cubefuse adapter according to claim 2 wherein each of said pair of fusereception contacts includes two spaced apart contact arms facing eachother and connected to each other by a contact base portion of therespective fuse reception contact.
 4. The cube fuse adapter according toclaim 3 wherein: the contact base portion of the respective fusereception contact is connected to an electrical contact protruding fromthe bottom side of the adapter housing of said cube fuse adapter, or thecontact base portion of the respective fuse reception contact forms anintegral component with the associated electrical contact.
 5. The cubefuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical fuse includesone of a class J fuse, a class CC fuse, a 14×51 fuse, a 22×58 fuse and a10×38 fuse.
 6. The cube fuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein theelectrical contacts protruding from the bottom side of the adapterhousing of said cube fuse adapter are pluggable into contact slots of acube fuse holder or into contact slots of a cube fuse switch.
 7. Thecube fuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein a signaling component anda resistor are connected in series to a light emitting diode and areconnected in parallel to the cylindrical fuse inserted into said pair offuse reception contacts, wherein the signaling component is adapted tosignal an interruption of an electrical current flow after thecylindrical fuse has melted due to an overcurrent.
 8. The cube fuseadapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter housing includes acover portion removable from a base portion of the adapter housing. 9.The cube fuse adapter according to claim 8 wherein the cover portion andthe base portion of the adapter housing include a fire resistantmaterial and/or heat conductive material.
 10. The cube fuse adapteraccording to claim 1 wherein the pair of fuse reception contacts ispivotable around a rotation axis between a first position in which aninserted cylindrical fuse is covered by the cover portion of the adapterhousing and a second position in which the inserted cylindrical fuse isreplaceable.
 11. The cube fuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein thecylindrical fuse is configured to be inserted into the pair of fusereception contacts by pushing the cylindrical fuse through a receptionopening within the cover portion of the adapter housing.
 12. The cubefuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein the pair of fuse receptioncontacts are externally sprung or self-sprung.
 13. The cube fuse adapteraccording to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical fuse is inserted in a fuseholding element which is pivotable around a rotation axis or movablebetween a first position in which the fuse holding element is enclosedby the adapter housing and a second position in which the fuse holdingelement and the inserted cylindrical fuse are replaceable.
 14. The cubefuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter housing isconfigured to provide at least an IP 20 enclosure protection.
 15. Thecube fuse adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter housingincludes ventilation slots to provide heat dissipation.
 16. A powerdistribution system comprising at least one cube fuse adapter having anadapter housing shaped in the form of a cube fuse and including a pairof fuse reception contacts provided to receive a cylindrical fuse,wherein both of the pair of fuse reception contacts are connected toassociated electrical contacts protruding from a bottom side of theadapter housing of said cube fuse adapter or wherein each fuse receptioncontact of said pair of fuse reception contacts forms an integralcomponent with an associated electrical contact, wherein the protrudingelectrical contacts of the cube fuse adapter are pluggable intocorresponding slots of another device of said power distribution system.